fresco

That sounds very smart. But remind us -- what exactly was on the 1970 menu? Burger, cheeseburger, Big Mac, quarter pounder, fries done in suet, milk shakes, soft drinks? Am I missing anything?

Want to get the full effect of drinking beer without drinking beer? Try these. http://www.fatalvision.com/fv/home.php

I was under the impression that it was the restaurant's responsibility to provide pleasing food, service and atmosphere and my job to pay. All said, I'd rather have the restaurant focus on delivering these three things as best they can and not worry at all about giving me, or anyone else, anything.

Here's a better link to a different story: http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePr.../08/573205.html

The Canadian navy says it will serve Tim Horton's coffee at Canadian Forces base Halifax and in the galleys of the ships that sail from there, because because that is what sailors prefer: http://65.54.187.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=...zAD0BHt0Cha10A3

Some ideas from our English friends: http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/food_an...sp?story=548530

Guess I should have added one of these

Murderous vegan swine. http://news.sympatico.msn.ca/Health/Conten...btitle=&abc=abc This strikes me as potentially more dangerous and irresponsible than, well, fat and salt laden fast food. I think there is real merit in class action litigation against him and his kind.

i'd speculate, with scant evidence of course, that Canadian retailers are less likely to jack up their share of the retail price. would be interesting to compare the U.S. and Canadian farm price spreads. i'm guessing Canadian farmers, and even wholesalers, are seeing a larger chunk of the retail price. just a guess. The low prices apply to imported produce as well. It probably reflects the hypercompetitive marketplace in Toronto, which is unique in Canada, I think. A big German discount supermarket, Lidl, announced last year that it was coming to Toronto to compete in the mid-sized market range. Lidl has been a huge success wherever they expanded in Europe, but decided after a few months of study to stay out of Toronto. I will also note that Sam's Club does not seem to be doing well here, which is an indication of something, although their locations seem to suck.

Actually, I keep thinking that produce is so ridiculously inexpensive that soon someone is going to realize that they've made a big pricing mistake--here in Toronto you can buy, pretty much year around, a staggering amount of very good produce for a very few dollars. In fact, I suspect that the days of dirt cheap produce are numbered--high energy prices will work through the system very soon. But even if prices doubled, it would probably still seem inexpensive. Full disclosure: I'm not feeding a large family. OTOH, I was a little surprised to see bacon advertised as being on special for about double what I remember the regular, everyday price was not too many months ago.

Yes, it is worth the extra trouble and expense. IMHO, of course. But remember, it's a condiment, not an entire meal, so the extra trouble and expense is negligible.

They're great on top of roasted red peppers.

Priceless. Where, but on eGullet?

The only thing I have approaching bottled salad dressing is Hellman's mayo. But I have encountered people, and recently, who were genuinely amazed at the thought that salad dressings do not have to come from a bottle and indeed, regarded this is as magic or alchemy. Such, I guess, is the power of advertising.

Brooks, it sounds as though your Canadian trip was inspirational and galvanizing. You should do it more often.